Employment in the nation’s shops rose by 0.5 per cent in the final quarter of
last year, despite the flurry of high street failures.

The number of full-time equivalent roles rose by about 4,100, according to the
BRC-Bond Pearce Retail Employment Monitor.

The British Retail Consortium said that supermarkets were responsible for the
increase — employment at non-food stores declined.

Stephen Robertson, the BRC’s director-general, said: “After a disturbing fall
in overall retail employment in September last year, it’s a relief to see
marginal improvement at the end of 2011. It’s likely the delay taking on
seasonal staff, which hit the